Pa. man who duct-taped dog is OK'd to own animals

SCRANTON, Pa.—A judge in northeastern Pennsylvania says a man who drew national outrage when photos of his duct-taped dog surfaced is allowed to own animals.

The Pocono Record (http://bit.ly/1n1uVVh) said Pike County Judge Joseph Kameen denied county prosecutors' request Thursday to ban 27-year-old Russell Seese from owning or caring for animals for two years.

The judge did approve the prosecutors' request to impose the $1,000 mandatory minimum fine for animal cruelty. Kameen imposed a $500 fine when sentencing Seese in December.

Seese was charged last March after police found his dog, Lexi, in a chicken coop with her muzzle and legs duct-taped.

Investigators said Lexi was injured and left with no food or water. She was taken by an animal rescue group and will be available for adoption when fully recovered.